Clarifying the Electoral Record
Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President from 1999 to 2007, has issued a statement challenging claims made by Femi Fani-Kayode regarding Atiku’s political history. In a document titled "Fani-Kayode on Atiku: Separating Claims from the Record," Ibe asserted that Atiku appeared on the presidential ballot in three general elections, not seven as previously claimed by Fani-Kayode.
Ibe clarified the distinction between party nomination contests and general election candidacies. He stated that while Atiku contested party nominations in 1993, 2011, and 2015, he was not a candidate in the general elections for those years. According to Ibe, Atiku was actually on the ballot in the general elections of 2007, 2019, and 2023. Consequently, Ibe noted that the 2027 election would mark Atiku’s fourth general election candidacy.
The adviser criticized Fani-Kayode’s article for blurring the line between primary contests and actual elections, arguing that counting unsuccessful primary bids as presidential elections created an inaccurate comparison with politicians from other countries.
Constitutional Limits and Party Affiliations
Addressing legal constraints on future candidacies, Ibe cited Section 137 of Nigeria’s Constitution. He stated that this provision bars a person who has been elected President twice from seeking the office again, but it does not limit the number of times an individual can contest for the position.
Ibe also addressed Fani-Kayode’s claims regarding Atiku’s party affiliations, specifically refuting the assertion that Atiku belonged to seven political parties. Ibe argued that the People’s Front of Nigeria (PFN) was a political association during the Ibrahim Babangida transition period and was never registered as a formal political party.
Furthermore, Ibe pointed to Fani-Kayode’s own political trajectory, noting that the former minister moved between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ibe suggested that standards for party switching should be applied consistently across all politicians.
Legal and Financial Disclosures
The statement also touched on legal matters surrounding the Mambilla Dam project. Ibe stated that an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal rejected explanations for a $500,000 transfer to an account belonging to Atiku’s then-wife due to a lack of documentation. However, the tribunal found no evidence that Atiku exercised official duties to foster the contract award or imposed criminal liability.
Regarding financial disclosures, Ibe confirmed that Atiku’s engagement with Von Batten-Montague-York was publicly filed with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). This filing disclosed $1.2 million in annual compensation for government-affairs representation.
Policy Clarifications on Subsidies
Ibe also addressed misconceptions regarding Atiku’s subsidy proposal, clarifying that it was restricted to petroleum products refined in Nigeria. The proposal included a fixed spending ceiling and required National Assembly approval along with independent auditing. Ibe emphasized that these measures did not constitute a return to subsidizing imported petrol.